And there are still 97 games to go????
I liked Huff’s quote in the paper today:
“At this time of year, I’m used to being 20 games out,” Huff said. “I’ve never been a part of something like this.
“It’s an amazing experience. I used to be counting the days until vacation by now.”
I’m guessing Franchez is having a similar ride….
Huff’s re-birth has been one of the great sidebars of this season. He’s been like a left handed Ellis Burks lately. You know, when Barry, Kent, Alou, JT etc were on the team it was great because we were winning and who doesn’t like that? But it was never easy to like most of the players on those great teams just as *people*, you know?
This team is different. It’s EASY to like what we know about the fellas on this team. You can root for these players as “people”, not just players who play on your favorite team….
I’ll remember that when we go on a 6 game losing streak– it’ll make it a little easier to tolerate. 🙂
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
In the Bonds years, he was such a dominant personality that that hovered over the team and created the tensions first with Will Clark and then Jeff Kent.
Those teams were not as tight or loose as the late 80s Giants and the camaraderie shared by Will, Marty Williams, Thompson and Butler. Both teams were still successful, but I see the current Giants closer to the late 80s version in terms of camaraderie.
How about my idea to give two year extensions to Huff and Uribe for 2 years at $6 mill each and Torres at 3 years at $4 mill each. Gives each of them big slaps on the back and puts Huff and Uribe on the same financial footing with DeRosa and Franchez. No Renteria or Molina next year saves $14 mill right there.
Agree, GH. This club seems very loose. It just looks like there is good juju in the dugout, and I am sure the same is true of the club house. Yeah, Huff grows on my more and more as the days go by. What a great addition, and a real steal at his salary. It is hard to believe the Giants wouldn’t consider a 1 and 1 deal year’s end.
And Franchez has contributed solidly too. If he remains healthy throughout this year and next, and continues to contribute, he will end up being a steal at 6 mil per.
Contest update: 10 wins, 72 runs, 18 bombs. Projects to: 18, 130 and 32.
Off day today, at least there is the Celts-Laker game 7 to somewhat fill the void.
I read those comments on SFGate yesterday and thought it was very cool. Even though I knew who Huff had played for in his career it hadn’t struck me that this was the first time he’s really had a chance to make a run at the playoffs. Very nice story and explains why he plays with such energy. He’s been a great addition to the team.
Another contest I look forward to losing.
This squad does seem to have good camaraderie. You see that every time something good happens and the dugout openly cheers it.
Also interesting to see that even though there are various cliques they all click together.
Timmy and Cain are tight and Zito and Wilson are tight. But they all blend together. You have the Latin bullpen contingent and then the Panda-Uribe-Renteria Latino offensive group. Then there is the grizzled old goat group with Huff, Rowand, burrell and DeRosa.
Tim and Matt are also tight with Molina.
well, HackMan and Thrill hated each other so I don’t know if I’d compare the 2010 clubhouse to one that either of those guys were in. No extensions, as far as I’m concerned. Huff/Uribe/Torres Collective Story has been a great one but we don’t need to “Marvin Benard” our way into money that doesn’t pay off in 2011 and 2012……
I agree. It seems like they all believe in that old saying, there is no I in team (or whatever it was). They are rooting for each other, picking the other guy up and seem to be happy playing the game. I’m sure the ballplayers still think about the business side of things (as they should) but it doesn’t show. Good camaraderie, friendly competition, whatever, it is a fun team to watch and it’s translating into wins. Even sweeter.
Flav–I have to give you credit. I remember the day they signed Huff you were very upbeat about the move and thought he was well worth a $3 million flyer. I didn’t know much about him and I thought it was a waste of money. After he got off to a bit of a slow start, I was thinking he was another Garko—American League softball player who couldn’t cut it in the NL at ATT.
Obviously, I was dead wrong on the guy. The dude has been a great fit on so many levels—including a solid clubhouse guy as referenced above.
I love it when I watch the Huff homer videos on the Giant’s website and he always seems to hit the ball deep in the count. We haven’t seen a ton of that in recent years.
J bat….Didn’t Huff have a run at the playoffs last year with Detroit? Lost in a tiebreaker game to the Twins, 6-5 to miss winning the division.
Flav..great thread post. I was thinking the same thing last night after reading the Huff comments…and, for the first time in a while, I expect them to make it. Not just hoping they do.
As for comments late on the thread last night….Shitholtz is in the same boat as Ishi, out of options. He can’t get sent down without exposure to waivers…
Someone bought up Cain’s comment from the other day that without Huff and Uribe “the clubhouse would be a lot less funny”….good vibes from good guys. A HS coach asked me about a player I coached this season that will be in his program this fall. He asked” Good player? Good kid, good family”? Second questions obviously being more imp than the first.
Rox got 3 hits in Twinvillie and lost again on the road. Smith hit 7th, bottom two guys Iannetta at under Mendoza line and Barmes at .225, Helton’s still at .250. I’m wrong about a lot of stuff, but I just don’t see them anywhere except the outside looking in on the pennant race.
Nate’s start yesterday was first in a long time. Bowker wouldn’t get many ABs, and isn’t going to fight his way back into the mix, (tho airheaded Nate isn’t either). Yawn.
Matt Kemp, for all you LU freaks, hit 7th last night for the second time in a row, K’d 3 times, and his avg. has dropped to .267. Bochy not the only one sending a message to a young player with tremendous potential.
Flav, I don’t know if I would go so low as to call them Marvin Bernard types. This team does have a nice chemistry going though. For last year and for the first half of this year Uribe has proven that he might deserve more than a 1 to 1. Huff would have to show more than one year of good play. To early in the season to really think about contracts.
Kev– all I meant by that was, enjoy the nice year they’re having but don’t pay them “multi future years” and expect the same production. I’m not saying don’t re-sign them, just don’t throw multi years at them since you probably don’t have to (certainly not with Torres at least)…..
He may have Kat. I was just going off his comments. He seems really hungry to be on a winner. I hope he gets his wish!
I brought up a 1 and 1 (one year, Giants option year) as potential for Huff (notice I said consider it at “year’s-end). Same with Uribe. I wasn’t saying to entertain multi-year deals…just a possible 1 and 1 at year’s end. And if Huff and Uribe continue to perform as they have, they will certainly warrant that consideration.
The only “concern” with Torres is he will be in his first year of AE next year. The dude will get a raise…that is a given.
Huff played 40 games with the Tigers. They finished 86-77 (I believe there was a one-game playoff with the Twins).
Flav, I was thinking more of the late late 80s Giants when Hac Man and Chili were gone and Matt Williams was an every day player.
Tigers ended up 2nd in the AL Central.
It was just hard to tell what you meant when you through out Marvins name, Cause when I heard what they gave Marvin I almost cried that year, I couldn’t believe it.
I always had the feeling that Dusty was pushing hard for Banard. I think Dusty thought he could turn Banard into a good ballplayer.
1-1 makes sense to me, but giving them a pat on the bat with extensions will give some extra positive energy to carry them the second half.
But for Torres, at his age, his playing window as a starter needs to be acknowledged and a $4 mill year deal for next 2-3 years will make him an extremely happy camper.
I was against extending Affeldt because a middle-aged reliever is more susceptible to injury and he is fairly easy to replace.
Finding productive hitters for ATT via free agency or trade is much more difficult.
Dusty’s Reds have gotten some media attention, but they’re not that good. The Giants should have taken 3 of 4, and now the Dodgers are disposing of the Reds. The Reds are benefitting from the Cardinals scuffling. That division is weak these days.
Wasn’t Bernard also juicing? Or am I thinking of Rios?
I think Benard was on the infamous Mitchell list, if I’m not mistaking.
One of the reasons I like rooting for Huff, Urine and Torres ia that they are not playing for the money but for the love
Of the game and competition. It is really hard to root for Rowand and Renteria because their contracts are like albatrosses.
I caught some of the game on MLB network. I figured, uh-oh, Freddy’s out again what with his limping and all. Seems okay, I guess. Nothing written about it. Is he a delicate scrapper?
Urine?
Urine? Now there’s an unfortunate typo! Urine would be someone pissing money away.
Time to hit the showers, GH . . .
Yesterday was Bloomsday (belated happy Bloomsday, all) so I went to an event that featured matrons reading “smutty” passages from James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” talk about wincing irony. Happy Watergate Break-in Anniversary. Just last week I stayed in Foggy Bottom, a few blocks from the Watergate.
Ex girlfriend of mine was such a big fan of Marvin, and Giants fan in general, that she named one of her dogs Bernard. Don’t think the dog was ever on the juice however. Was a little on the lean side, but could catch a tennis ball with the best of ’em.
Hyuk . . .
GH, it’s easy to root for them when I realize it isn’t my money. Row has been a disappointment, sure. He just happened to come out when Hunter and A Jones did. they were seen as the cream of the FA OF crop back then. Would I have loved them to get Torii? Sure. Was I happpy they passed on A Jones? Hell yes. I thought Rowand would fall somewhere in the midddle production-wise, and he has, but that’s because A Jones completely feel flat on his face. Rent has been a disappointment, but it’s not like he wants to be hurt. Again, he signed right before the economic meltdown, and was luckyy in that regard, as no one saw that coming.
What I get typing on my blackberry at a congressional hearing. But I also root for good poop…also known as the World Cup.
Pawlie, I just wish my mom hung on th the bottle of Watergate vodka she bought when she took the family to DC back in 1973. This was between the break-in and the resignation . . .
Well, that and the 6 pack of Billy beer she bought. . .
Chuck, I was also supportive when they signed Rowand for his leadership persona and we got suckered with his numbers in Philly.
But knowing he makes what he does and is now essentially a bench player is just unpleasant. I think I am going to lose my bet to Flav
I may have to buy you lunch out there if I get back there for a visit or if you get here Flav.
I brought up the Bowker thing, mainly because they’re going to have to move him one way or the other. My guess is that he gets another shot up here. I am aware of Nate’s status but when a defensive replacement starts HURTING you on defense… and I posit theat they can use the power bat, however erratic, over what they get from Nate. But who knows: Nate, Bowker, Velez, too bad they can’t make one guy with the parts…
Clubhouse chemistry? Overrated unless you have it. We’ve all seen Timmy leading the cheering section long after he’s out of the game and his chance for a “W” gone. Not a little rah rah, the guy goes ape… how many wins is it worth? Hell, maybe none, maybe 5, who the fuck cares? As a lot have noted, it makes it more fun for them and easier for the fans to get behind these guys. And for the Botchy crowd: nobody, and I mean nobody, shows up the manager here. There’s a strong message when a guy gets called into the office and the manager tells him to close the door behind him. Whatever went down in the next hour, I think Timmy got the message. That could have been one of the big deals of the year: nobody is exempt. Panda got the treatment as well.
The Dodgers score their first run on a LiveFree nightmare. With two out in the inning, Arroyo walks the back-up catcher and back-up shortstop and then gives up an RBI single to the pitcher.
Z: get it together, pal. It’s “career mediocrity” Arroyo…
OMG! As the saying goes. Arroyo just blasted a 3-run HR! That screaming mediocrity can hit!
The Dodger broadcasters were quite the cock-of-the-walk until that HR. Can’t wait until the Dodgers run into the buzz-saw schedule they face for the next couple of weeks.
Bochy doing what it takes to win regardless of personal or personnel issues has made me take notice. Is he still off the chew? I think he is making very clear-headed decisions and I am shocked…I am starting to believe in him.
How many idiots over on the Splash last year were demanding Brian Wilson get dumped, what a bunch of morons. He is truly Filthy…
Some of you bring to mind the old chesdtnut about the teen… the kid gets off dope and then notices how Dad seems a lot smarter now…
Yeah, for all his mumble grumble gee whiz persona, Bochy regularly takes the heat for things not working, deflecting it when things do work, and he deals with the players ONLY in his office, away from the media.
I wasn’t thrilled with him the first couple years, but he’s done as good a job as can be expected with the parrts he’s been given. His work with the pitchers has always been stellar. Now that the team has some players, it’s hard to fault his ability of shuffling guys around, and getting the right guys in at the right time. We’ve all bitched about the glacial pace at which he makes moves, but hey, like Mike said, he’s got more weapons to work with, so the option of sitting Rowand makes sense when Burrell comes in and starts raking.
Always good to see you coming around to my way of thinkin’, Chuck. BTW: I was joking about the “toadie” thing, and I’m only 75 an hour, this month only..
Reds lighting up Ely.
I’m pretty bad when it comes to Rowand, raging against his being out there, even when there was little alternative, so i guess i was wrong . . . although the Panda thing (moving him down) looks like it is paying dividends.
Gee Mike, no $100.oo an hour? Now I AM bummed . . .
twinfan said, on June 17, 2010 at 10:04 am: Nate, Bowker, Velez, too bad they can’t make one guy with the parts…
Unca Chuck said, on June 17, 2020 at 10:33 am: I wasn’t thrilled with him the first couple years, but he’s done as good a job as can be expected with the parrts he’s been given.
————————————
My God, people! The Giants don’t need Bam Bam!! They need Dr. Frankenstein!!
Kumbaya, motherfucker . . .
winky wink Smiley face.
Geeez, I pay Mike a compliment on the Splash, and they delete it ! ! !
Too fucking funny!
Twin….Agree with Bochy sending Panda a message as well.Pablo is a very important part of what they need every day in the LU.Bochy batting him 7th a few games is a strong message to get his act it together.That and his .167 batting average with RISP,one of the reasons the Giants dropped him from 3rd to the bottom end of the LU.When you hit in the 3 spot you need to produce.Panda knows it.So does Bochy.
Well, those who said Uribe would be the regular SS would appear to be right ( as of now). According to Baggarly’s sub, Pavlovic:
” Edgar Renteria was reinstated from the disabled list before the game, but the starting shortstop spot firmly belongs to Uribe, who has turned into an All-Star candidate with regular playing time. Bochy said Uribe might see time at designated hitter this weekend in Toronto to get Renteria some at-bats.”
Seems that moving Uribe around the infield is the better choice. Might still happen. Certainly just announcing that Edgar has his job back might not be the proper message right now. I think they need both in as much as possible.
By the way, good call, Flav, on naming Huff POTG. But quite frank(enstein)ly, I wouldn’t have argued if you had named Wilson or…Urine
(that’s too funny. I’ll try not to make it a habit)
Hey i don’t mind calling Uribe….Urine ,as long as he keeps pissing on NL pitchers the way he is.
Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things, but Benard was on the Mitchell list.
I too was wrong on how Renteria would be introduced back into the team/LU.
Naming Urine POTG would have been pissing away a deserved POTG posting. 😉
These last two are easily Juan’s best years since 2004. Two things there, one in that it’s almost as amazing as Torres breaking through at 30+ and also it shows again what many of us already knew: this is an attractive ballpark for RH pull power hitters. And what to make of Huff’s 9 home runs here? I think we talked about that a little bit before the year. And he’s now touched on it, he’s a line drive HR hitter more than the Dunn type. It’s those high flies that turn into long outs. He’s had a couple of those but mostly he’s hitting liners and more toward the foul line than triple’s alley.
Dusty got smart and left his only good reliever in to face Manny with the bases juiced. Rhodes got him on a grounder to short. 7-1 in the 8th… Travis Schlichting (!!!) in for the Dodgers…
Wow, Rent does not get the starting position back, that is going against tradition. What kind of message gets sent to a Vet, if you go on the DL you lose your starting position no matter what your stats??
Kevin, if you remember they got Uribe for less $ than they might have by kinda hiding Freddy’s injury status. The guy then has an AS star caliber first half. I don”t think announcing that he’s back to the bench would be cool right now. My guess is that this weekend is perfect to ease into the whole thing without feathers getting ruffled. If Rent looks good, neither will sit.
It’s final: 1/2 game back of both, tie in the loss column.
I’m loving the struggles of Matt Kemp this year and we can thank are former Asst GM Ned Colletti for it.
Matt Kemp has been two different players this season.He was one of the most productive hitters during the first 3 weeks and closer to replacement level the past 7 weeks.What happened? Well the inflection point was none other then the critical comments GM Colletti,made on a LA morning radio show on April 27th.
Let’s take a look at Kemp’s Stat’s….BC (before Colletti) and AC (after Colletti)
BC…. .316 avg .379 OBP .645 SLG 1.024 OPS
AC…. .243 avg ..304 OBP .395 SLG .700 OPS
Coincidence? Small sample size? Hurt feelings? or a combination, you pick your poison.
Mike, that it true also, almost a catch 22 situation. It also is telling that the Giants aren’t ready to bench Molina in favor of Posey.
LaBumbos got a bit of mileage outta Ely till the league started figuring him out. But whodda thunk his big moment of truth would have come from Brandon Arroyo. So after that fall into the Arroyo and followups by a couple of the Riverside roustabouts, Ely is scraping the mud off his uniform and the Dogs may be looking to plan C.
In some ways i prefer seeing the Giants half a game out via the W. column to being a half game ahead by the same route. LA and SD have both had good runs, but the LaBumbos, in particular can hardly expect to maintain the same dominance over divisional rivals they happened to attain in the opening months. Actually, i’m very much looking forward to that grudgematch at China Basin at the end of the month. The current Giants LU is not at all the same as the one the Bums stifled weeks ago. At present, SF sits at 5th and 6th in OBP and SP, though still only 11th in runs. I expect nice gradual upticks in run production.
Thanks to Wilson and a little help from his friends, SF now leads the Majors in saves with 23. A bit more BP help and they should win most of the close ones.
BF, you called it in your opening remarks, but i do not expect a 6 game losing streak with this team, particularly with the quality of SPs. Also i’m expecting Pando to go on a tear starting sometime soon, maybe in Houston. A four game downer could happen at some point between here and October ~ but i don’t think it’s probable. Yahoo sports now places the Giants at 6th in baseball in their power ratings. Only the Braves get a higher rank in the NL.
Kevin, that;s the curious thing about Posey. When They caled him up, I sure thought he’d have more than 2 games catching out of his first 19 games
Kat: Good take on the Kemp fiasco. Let’s hope he stays sour the whole season. Bums got some unexpected pickup from their bench and role players. That’s not likely to last the duration.
That “gradual” pick up has begun in earnest, Stix. Giants have outscored everybody in the West this month. I don’t expect them to lead the division in runs from here on out but with their very decided edge in starting pitching, they’re easily the favorite now. Obviously, the pen is now the main concern, as I knew a few weeks ago.
Who really cares how many games Buster spends behind the dish. When you look at all the interchangeable parts with which Bochy has to work (including 3 catchers), I think we all agree he has done one damned fine job of “mixing and matching.” Buster will get his time catching, but the important thing now is to continue putting productive LUs out there, AND winning games.
Twin: Our assessments seem pretty close on the BP situation. Affeldt appears to have gone a bit limp due to his physical situation. Mota’s meltdown is currently the big concern. He will be monitored closely as his previous reliability has taken a hit. He could bounce back. He might not anytime soon. With his limited repertoire, Romo has to be used very selectively. Bautista got lit up a couple times recently and is on a very close watch. Runzler has the stuff, but is still the erratic, somewhat walkaholic rookie. Casilla flashes between killer and kooky erratic.
What is needed is a steady hand for the 8th inning. With their current plethora of interchangeable parts and spare parts of modest to moderate quality, plus some decent prospects on the farm, the Giants should be able to swing a deal for such a calm, cool and collected RP, one who rarely gives up a walk and is not much given to surrendering the longball. Surely, there are several such in baseball. Secondly, we both agree that Steve Edlefsen is due for the call soon because of his dominant RP stats in Fresno. He may be more suited for the sixth or seventh, than the eighth, though, being totally inexperienced at the ML level.
First to go? I’d say Bautista. Maybe Affeldt hits the DL?
Thoughts?
What do you guys think about this kid Jensen Lewis of the Indians? Kid was getting saves for them a couple of years ago and I would think the Indians could use a promising young OF or 1B, areas where we seem to have a log jam right now (well that and catcher) .
Want a solid 8th inning guy.It’s Luke Gregerson.This guy can flat out fucking pitch.Too bad he’s on the Pads,no chance to trade for him.He would be perfect to set up Wilson.
Is there any scuttlebut about Affeldt? Injury rumors or anything? Or is this just the way it goes sometimes.
(heh heh…heh heh…he said scuttlebut)
Chi, all I’m thinking is that if Bengie left, Posey could get settled in at catcher. As much fun as this lineup shuiffle is, I’m sure Huff would be happy playing 1st, Posey catching, Pablo at 3rd, etc.
There’s nothing wrong with having a set line up. With Rent back this is even MORE unlikely, but something has to give with a couple of these guys sooner or later.
Affeldt had a sore hammy a while ago, don’t know if that is still the prob, Ted.